Didn't think you could bring these to the US

[deejaaa]

there are some better priced ones out there. shipping not included.
Nissan / PAO - Japanese used cars exports and Japan car import / Page1 [ tradecarview ]

[cosmick]

Originally Posted by bentring

Non-U.S. version vehicles less than 21 years old must be modified to meet U.S.
emission and safety standards and/or to be identical to U.S. version vehicles and must
be imported by an Independent Commercial Importer (ICI).

From Procedures for Importing Vehicles and Engines into the United States I found released by the EPA of course. (link is a pdf)

Yet a couple of years ago the FBI seized nearly every R34 Skyline GTR in the country. Even the ones with Cali-legal LSx swaps. The only exceptions were guys with diplomatic immunity.

[Chrysler kid]

Originally Posted by cosmick

Yet a couple of years ago the FBI seized nearly every R34 Skyline GTR in the country. Even the ones with Cali-legal LSx swaps. The only exceptions were guys with diplomatic immunity.

You have a little bit of truth with a load of crazy.

Motorex began importing cars to comply with federal mandates and sell in the us market. There were a handful of r34 gtr cars sold

Motorex went through the process of crash testing an r33gtr with dual airbags and was legally able to import them until the government found out they were also selling selling r34 and r32 skylines under the r33 exemption. The government seized any unsold cars, but the vehicles sold by motorex were given full exemption because the company was unlawful about their legality. Motorex cars were certified in Japan with bills of sale and titles so they could be verified as non stolen or legally sellable goods. Motorex cars to date are the only skyline able to be registered without fear of being crushed, as well as a handful of 96-97 skyline r33 cars with dual airbags.

You can register any car with your states licensing office, however because the vehicles are imported illegally you risk seizure of the vehicle. There are quite a few 1998-2001 Jdm integra type R cars registered and insured, however you are walking a fine line as a right hand drive vehicle was never offered to be sold in the imited states and can not be said to have been fully crash tested to meet federal safety standards

The vehicle with the most seizures and crushes is the land rover. Because they sold in changed for a good 40 years there have been importers selling 2000 models as 1987 models with their vins. The land rover is the current posted child for car crushing

The reason manufacturers could care less and the government crushes, simple, they want their taxes from assembly and licensing of a vehicle. Nissan did not pay for EPA or safety test, or dot certify headlights and etc, so the government makes and example of these cars by crushing them.

The government restricts vehicles of 24 years of age to meet their safety requirements at time of assembly. To date the only car that could pass is an r33 gtr with dual air bags (though the government has yet to verify if they are still honoring Motorex crash testing data). The rest of the vehicles must be 25 years of age or older to be considered exempt and classified as classic cars.

1989 and 1990 model vehicles have now been considered exempt and legally driven and registered without fear of seizure.

In the dallas area there are currently 2 1989 skylines on Craigslist and there have been a few 1989 nissan Silvia k and ae86 corolla cars for sale.

There is a clean r32 gt (non turbo rb20) for 13,500 right now, and a gt-t (awd turbo rb20). There are 4 1989 gt-r's in my area, suprisingly enough the owner's regularly shop at my local auto parts stores I manage and love talking about Japanese muscle lol

I would like to buy a 1992 jdm civic si hatch eventually, but right now the market is high because 1989 and 1990 were the first years of the skyline. As more become imported to the states I expect to see prices fall to where they are in the UK and Canada where there is only a 15 year limit on imported vehicles.
For reference search skyline on www.eBay.co.uk eBay is pretty much how ever used car is sold by a private party in the uk

The most illegal and unregister able japanese muscle car is the s15 Nissan Silvia. The only ones in the united states were imported under a show and display exclusion to which a vehicle must be driven less than 1500 miles annually. It's an expensive process


cliff notes
United states
Vehicles 25 years of age or older are classic cars and considered exempt from standard vehicle assembly laws.

Canada
Vehicles 15 years of age or older are exempt

France:
cars over 10 years old are illegal to drive on the road because they produce more pollution

[Hersbird]

So import the 15 year old ones to Canada and then import them to the US. I have bought 2 cars from Canada and it was very simple, just a local law enforcement vin check once in the US, nothing from customs or border patrol.

[bentring]

Originally Posted by cosmick

Yet a couple of years ago the FBI seized nearly every R34 Skyline GTR in the country. Even the ones with Cali-legal LSx swaps. The only exceptions were guys with diplomatic immunity.

For one, I should have went into more detail in my other post because what I previously posted only is the case if everything else regarding an imported car must be up to US standards. If not, then the 25 year rule everyone else is quoting applies.

Secondly, I'm not familiar with the seizing you mention, but a quick google search gave me this: In this case, the cars were imported by Kaizo under a special exemption for automotive parts. They brought over the shells and drivetrains separately and then reassembled them. They were then, apparently, registered under the law as SB 100, which is for kit/show cars. This exemption allows vehicles not driven frequently to be registered without smog checks.

[Cd]

My neighbor had a Skyline right hand drive.
Also, lots of neat cars here from Mexico - Seat i think is the brand.

[Chrysler kid]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

So import the 15 year old ones to Canada and then import them to the US. I have bought 2 cars from Canada and it was very simple, just a local law enforcement vin check once in the US, nothing from customs or border patrol.

Correct. However once you register it to your name they now know your location and that according to federal law you are not driving a vehicle deemed for road use. So you could wake up a few weeks later to customs officers seizing your car. Or worse you could face smuggling charges because the vehicle is illegal to own and operate in the states and you knowingly transported an illegal item across an international line.

The last story was a guy who bought an s15 Silvia and did the same thing. He was sentenced to 15 years for smuggling, falsifying documents, international trafficking and a few other smaller offenses.

If you must know the by far easiest way to own and drive a skyline illegally is to buy a 240sx as a rolling shell, and register that car to your name and put the plates and stickers on your skyline. If you just shave the words skyline off of the back panel no one would be the wiser. At least that's how the dozen or so people who have had their skylines as gray market cars usually do it.

The problem then becomes that the car attracts attention and you basically use the car on Sundays to get groceries because you're paranoid about taking it to a car meet because you never know who is in the crowd.

Originally Posted by bentring

For one, I should have went into more detail in my other post because what I previously posted only is the case if everything else regarding an imported car must be up to US standards. If not, then the 25 year rule everyone else is quoting applies.

Secondly, I'm not familiar with the seizing you mention, but a quick google search gave me this: In this case, the cars were imported by Kaizo under a special exemption for automotive parts. They brought over the shells and drivetrains separately and then reassembled them. They were then, apparently, registered under the law as SB 100, which is for kit/show cars. This exemption allows vehicles not driven frequently to be registered without smog checks.

That would be how the last group of skylines were crushed. Since they are using chassis that were made by a manufacturer for road use that did not comply to federal standards the cars can not be classified as kit cars.

Even shipping a shell over seas you are classifying the shipment as automotive parts. The shell can only be used as "automotive parts" once assembled it violates customs policies because it becomes a motor vehicle. The "car parts" are to be used only as such.

There are basically two laws you are violating by having a skyline in the united states, you or some one else has falsified documents to import the car (I.e. smuggling) and you and the shipping company face heavy fines and loss of your customs license. And of course operating a motor vehicle that is unsafe for public use and is a danger to others on the road

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by Chrysler kid

Correct. However once you register it to your name they now know your location and that according to federal law you are not driving a vehicle deemed for road use. So you could wake up a few weeks later to customs officers seizing your car. Or worse you could face smuggling charges because the vehicle is illegal to own and operate in the states and you knowingly transported an illegal item across an international line.

The last story was a guy who bought an s15 Silvia and did the same thing. He was sentenced to 15 years for smuggling, falsifying documents, international trafficking and a few other smaller offenses.

If you must know the by far easiest way to own and drive a skyline illegally is to buy a 240sx as a rolling shell, and register that car to your name and put the plates and stickers on your skyline. If you just shave the words skyline off of the back panel no one would be the wiser. At least that's how the dozen or so people who have had their skylines as gray market cars usually do it.

The problem then becomes that the car attracts attention and you basically use the car on Sundays to get groceries because you're paranoid about taking it to a car meet because you never know who is in the crowd.



That would be how the last group of skylines were crushed. Since they are using chassis that were made by a manufacturer for road use that did not comply to federal standards the cars can not be classified as kit cars.

Even shipping a shell over seas you are classifying the shipment as automotive parts. The shell can only be used as "automotive parts" once assembled it violates customs policies because it becomes a motor vehicle. The "car parts" are to be used only as such.

There are basically two laws you are violating by having a skyline in the united states, you or some one else has falsified documents to import the car (I.e. smuggling) and you and the shipping company face heavy fines and loss of your customs license. And of course operating a motor vehicle that is unsafe for public use and is a danger to others on the road

I thought there was a loophole that fast&furious used to get theirs into the states, which ended up getting patched due to the movies? Wasn't it something like importing the parts to the car and assembling it here in the states?

[Fat Charlie]

Loopholes in movies aren't loopholes in real life, especially when they're just part of the backstory. The screenwriters needed a way to explain the cars' presence that was simple enough to sum up in one or two lines and with a quick shot of an assembly operation.

[jcp123]

Them gummint boys need to relax.